2018 March Board Book

Expo Sirha – Bakery Contest

CMAB was invited to be part of the third Bakery Contest as the butter sponsor, the contest will take place during Expo Sirha in Mexico City from April 11 th to 13 th , 2018. The requisition is to participate with 100 Kg of unsalted butter with 82% of milk fat. In addition, CMAB can participate with additional activities and sponsorships in order to obtain brand awareness on the bakery industry as a first time. This is a great opportunity to open the conversation in the sector, with the objective to develop new products.

China

Effective Dec. 1, 2017, China is unilaterally lowering its cheese tariffs from 12% to 8% as part of a broader package of tariff cuts for food and consumer goods. Cheese was included among those products, however, only because of three years of bridge-building efforts led by U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC). USDEC’s China Dairy Tariff Initiative, which began in early 2014, focused on working with Chinese authorities to analyze the mutual benefits that would result from China unilaterally lowering its tariffs on certain dairy products. Over the last decade, China’s cheese imports soared more than seven-fold to nearly 100,000 metric tons. Already a top 10 cheese buyer, it is on pace to become the largest cheese importer in the world in the coming years. In addition to four HS Codes covering cheese, the Chinese tariff changes also reduced duties on two categories of products containing dairy ingredients. Hydrolyzed protein formula for people with special nutritional needs (HS 2106.90.90) was lowered from 20% to zero, and prepackaged infant foods (HS 1901.10.90) was lowered from 15% to 2%. CMAB organized a trade gathering event in Guangzhou on December 20, where over 40 local dairy importers, traders, retailers, bakeries and hotels attended to build a better sales and distribution network for California dairy products and educate traders new to California dairies about their quality and nutrition benefits. Products such as cream cheese, Mozzarella, Cheddar and probiotics drinks were showcased, and partnering venue, the Conrad Guangzhou, created a number of recipes using California dairy products to the event.